EXPLORATION ’94 — U.S. Bureau of Mines undergoes review

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has been involved in an extensive program review as part of the National Performance Review undertaken by U.S. Vice-president Al Gore at the direction of the president.

A draft report titled “Re-inventing the USBM” has been published. The basis of the review follows:

* Which programs are appropriate for the federal government and which should be done by the private sector?

* Can USBM programs be aligned more closely with departmental priorities and initiatives?

* Which actions should be taken to streamline USBM programs and the organization to conform with anticipated budget reductions?

The draft report, which is premised on an annual USBM budget reduction to US$150 million from US$170 million, describes a redirection into three program areas: environment, health and safety, and mineral information. Five “centres of excellence” would be created and the mineral institute program would be integrated with USBM research.

The report makes several recommendations, including:

* Environmental research should focus on developing and demonstrating technologies that would clean up waste on public lands

* Health and safety research should continue focusing on developing accident prevention technologies and processes

* Commodity and material-specific research that is not cost-shared should be phased out; the remaining minerals and materials research should be refocused on pollution and waste prevention

* Minerals information and analysis activities should concentrate on the major commodities and countries and provide the scientific and analytical information for sound regulations, decisions and ecosystems management * Research should be strengthened and supplemented through increased partnerships and contract research with private firms and universities * Generic Mineral Technology Center research should become part of the USBM program

* Five “centres of excellence” should be created: environmental remediation, pollution prevention and control, health and safety, minerals information and materials research partnerships.

It is proposed to reduce the overall scope of the mineral information program by concentrating on mineral commodities and countries of “greatest economic importance.” Materials activity would concentrate on a few basic materials (for example, plastics) that are major substitutes for non-fuel mineral commodities, and work on advanced materials should end.

Mineral assessment activities should focus on those public lands facing major policy or land-use issues. Other assessment activities should be conducted only on a reimbursable basis. USBM will enhance its ability to provide scientific and decision-oriented analyses of national tax, trade, environmental and land use issues and to further the development and implementation of sound ecosystem management policies.

The mineral institutes would be co-ordinated much more closely with the research program of the USBM. The reclamation and waste treatment and recovery functions would be integrated into USBM’s environmental technology program. Respirable dust and mine systems and ground control would become part of USBM health and safety research. The Marine Minerals Generic Center would not be funded in the USBM budget. Funding for the Generic Minerals Technology Centers would be reduced to $5.5 million and allotment grants would no longer be necessary.

Mineral land assessment work would continue when the work addresses a major policy issue or is mutually agreed to and funded by reimbursement to the USBM. Assessment used in routine planning by the land management agencies would be discontinued.

With regard to minerals availability activity, the number of commodities covered would be reduced and all coal work and work on foreign properties would be eliminated.

— From a recent issue of “Washington Concentrates,” a publication of the American Mining Congress.